Block test stand

ABSTRACT

A block test stand includes a body having a base and two rods each having a first end secured on the base and a second end having a barrel laterally secured on the two rods. A bearing member is partially slidably received in the barrel. The bearing member includes a piston cap slidably received in the barrel, and a piston is received in the piston cap and extends through the barrel. A connector is secured on a distal end of the piston. A bearing seat is connected to the connector. The bearing seat includes a block and a spheroid secured on the block. The spheroid is partially universally received in the socket in the connector and a concentric ring is sleeved on the connector and secured on the block to hold the block in place.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a block test stand, and moreparticularly to a block test stand for testing a compressive strength ofa cylindrical concrete specimens.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional block test stand (60) in accordance with the prior artshown in FIGS. 6-8 comprises a base (61), four interconnecting rods (63)each having a first end secured on the base (61) and a upper plate (62)secured on a second end of each of the four interconnecting rods (63). Abearing block (66) centrally longitudinally extends through the upperplate (62). The bearing block (66) includes a first end having a bearingplate (67) mounted thereon and a second end having a curved indentation(702) defined therein. A first spring (68) is compressively sleeved onthe bearing block (66) between the bearing plate (67) and the upperplate (62). A seat (72) is universally connected to the second end ofthe bearing block (66). The seat (72) includes a spherical protrusion(721) extending therefrom and partially universally received in thecurved indentation (702) in the second end of the bearing block (66).The bearing block (66) includes first stubs (661) laterally extendingfrom an outer periphery thereof and the seat (72) includes multiplesecond stubs (722) laterally extending from an outer periphery of theseat (72). Each second stub (722) linearly aligns with a correspondingone of the multiple first stubs (661) of the bearing block (66). Asecond spring (76) is mounted between a first stub (661) and a secondstub (722) that align with each other for making the seat (72) abut thesecond end of the bearing block (66). The cylindrical concrete specimen(not numbered) is situated within the four interconnecting rods (63),and between the base (61) and the upper plate (62) during testingcompressive strength.

However, the conventional block test stand in accordance with the priorart includes several disadvantages as follow:

1. The four interconnecting rods (63) limit the size of the concretespecimen. The concrete specimen is not easily to be situated within thefour interconnecting rods (63) and taken out after being tested.

2. The only support for holding between the seat (723) and the beardingblock (66) depends solely on the second springs (76). Consequently, theconventional block test stand (60) will not be operated when any one ofthe multiple second springs (76) is broken.

3. Instead of hidden inside a protected cover, the first spring (68) isexposed and unprotected. Therefore, the first spring (68) is prone toperosion and broken.

4. The user has no choice but replacing the seat (72) and the bearingblock (66) when an abrasion happened on the seat (72) and the bearingblock (66) because they are not a one-piece assembly.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate thedisadvantages of the conventional block test stand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide an improvedblock test stand for testing specimen that is easily to be operated andhas a longer lifetime.

To achieve the objective, the block test stand in accordance with thepresent invention comprises a body having a base and two rods eachhaving a first end secured on the base and a second end having a barrellaterally secured on the two rods. A bearing member is partiallyslidably received in the barrel. The bearing member includes a pistoncap slidably received in the barrel, and a piston is received in thepiston cap and extends through the barrel. A connector is secured on adistal end of the piston. A bearing seat is connected to the connector.The bearing seat includes a block and a spheroid secured on the block.The spheroid is partially universally received in the socket in theconnector and a concentric ring is sleeved on the connector and securedon the block to hold the block in place.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent after a careful reading of the detailed description withappropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a block test stand in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the block test stand in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the block test stand in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an operational side plan view in cross-section of the blocktest stand of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the block test stand in FIG. 1 for showingan angle between the two rods of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional block test stand inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the conventional block test stand inFIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a side operational view in cross-section of the conventionalblock test stand in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a block test standin accordance with the present invention comprises a body (1), a bearingmember (2) secured on a top of the body (1) and a bearing seat (3)longitudinally mounted to the bearing member (2).

The body (1) includes a base (12) and two rods (11) longitudinallymounted to the base (12). Further with reference to FIG. 5, an angle (H)is formed between the two rods (11) relative to a center of the bearingmember (2). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, theangle (H) is set about 70 degrees. Each rod (11) has a first end securedon the base (12) and a second end having a barrel (10) laterally mountedto the two rods (11). The barrel (10) has a through hole (101) centrallydefined therein and an annular lip (103) inwardly extending from aninner periphery of the through hole (101) near a bottom of the barrel(10). At least annular groove (102) is defined in the inner periphery onthe through hole (101) and fully filled with steel balls (104).

The bearing member (2) includes a piston cap (22) slidably received inthe through hole (101) in the barrel (10) and the steel balls (104) inthe at least one annular groove (102) can reduce the friction betweenthe barrel (10) and the piston (22). The piston cap (22) is hollow and apiston (24) is centrally received in the piston cap (22). The piston(24) downward extends through the barrel (10). A bearing plate (20) ismounted on a top of the piston cap (22) and a connector (27) is mountedto a bottom of the piston (24). A bolt (21) extends through the bearingplate (20), the piston cap (22) and the piston (24), and is screwed ontothe connector (27) to securely connect the bearing plate (20), thepiston cap (22), the piston (24) and the connector (27). The connector(27) has a socket (271) defined in a bottom thereof and the connector(27) has an outer periphery concentrically corresponding to that of thecurved indentation (271) in the connector (27).

The bearing seat (3) includes a block (33) having a spheroid (32)centrally secured on the block (33) and partially received in the socket(271) in the connector (27). The spheroid (32) has a curvature beingequal to that of the socket (271) so that the block (33) can beuniversally moved relative to the connector (27). A concentric ring (31)is concentrically sleeved on the connector (27) and secured on the block(33) to hold the block (33) in place. The concentric ring (31) has acurved inner surface corresponding to the connector (27). Thecylindrical concrete specimen (not numbered) is situated under thebearing seat (3) during testing compressive strength.

As described above, the block test stand in accordance with the presentinvention has several advantages as follow.

1. The two rods (11) are located at an angle about 70 degrees thatleaves the body (1) with a wide-open space so that the block test standof the present invention can receive a great specimen and more easilyput in or take out the tested specimen.

2. The spring (23) is received din the piston cap (22) so that thepiston cap (22) provides a protection to the spring (23) and the spring(23) has a longer lifetime than that of the conventional block teststand.

3. The annular groove (102) in the inner periphery of the through hole(101) and the steel balls received in the annular groove (102) caneffectively reduce the friction force between the barrel (10) and thepiston cap (22).

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiment, it is to be understood that many other possiblemodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A block test stand comprising: a body including abase and two rods each having a first end secured on the base and asecond end having a barrel laterally secured on the two rods, the barrelhaving a through hole centrally defined therein and an annular lipinwardly extending from an inner periphery of the through hole near abottom of the barrel; a bearing member partially slidably received inthe barrel, the bearing member including a piston cap slidably receivedin through hole in the barrel, and a piston received in the piston capand extending through the barrel, a spring sleeved on the piston andabutting the annular lip and the piston cap, a connector secured on adistal end of the piston and a bearing plate secured on a top of thepiston cap, the connector having a socket defined in a bottom thereof;and a bearing seat connected to the connector, the bearing seatincluding a block and a spheroid secured on the block, the spheroidpartially universally received in the socket in the connector, aconcentric ring sleeved on the connector and secured on the block tohold the block in place.
 2. The block test stand as claimed in claim 1,wherein an angle is formed between the two rods relative to a center ofthe bearing member and set about 70 degrees.
 3. The block test stand asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the barrel includes at least one annulargroove defined in the inner periphery of the through hole in the barreland fully filled with steel balls for deducing a friction force betweenthe piston cap and the barrel.
 4. The block test stand as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the concentric ring has a curved inner surfacecorresponding to the connector.
 5. The block test stand as claimed inclaim 2, wherein the barrel includes at least one annular groove definedin the inner periphery of the through hole in the barrel and fullyfilled with steel balls for deducing a friction force between the pistoncap and the barrel.
 6. The block test stand as claimed in claim 2,wherein the concentric ring has a curved inner surface corresponding tothe connector.
 7. The block test stand as claimed in claim 3, whereinthe concentric ring has a curved inner surface corresponding to theconnector.